1 2 • GCU TODAY
G
enerally speaking, Millennials
are self-absorbed, wasteful, even
greedy, and not terribly responsible,
compassionate or willing to
sacrifice. Or so people in that generation (ages
13 to 33) told the Pew Research Group in a
2015 study.
The surveyors must have skipped over
Grand Canyon University. Here, a growing
number of students rise before the sun to
feed the homeless, wedge into their schedules
babysitting time for neighborhood moms
learning English and consistently make friends
with 6-year-olds and septuagenarians alike.
The students do it for no pay or school
credit. They get much more — the joy of being
able to give back to the community. They are
part of GCU’s mushrooming Local Outreach,
which has twice as many student-led ministries
this year as last that have attracted 1,500
volunteers in the first 10 weeks of fall semester.
Chris Cunningham, Local Outreach
coordinator, said the students’ commitment to
and love for the populations they serve debunk
stereotypes about Millennials.
“People say we are lazy, we don’t work hard,
that we’re always talking about helping the
world, that we’re attracted to big ideas and
dreams, but they want to know when we’re
going to stop talking and start doing,” said
Cunningham, 25. “I look at the kids involved in
our Local Outreach, who get up early and have
full days of classes and at the end of the day
they are still looking forward to giving more
of their time. There’s not much of a material
return, but our students see a deeper value.”
On campus, in the University’s
neighborhood and beyond its boundaries,
Christian and non-Christian students alike are
living out Jesus’ own words: “‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’”
(Matthew 25:40)
Here’s a look at GCU’s four new ministries:
The generation gap narrows
Playing bingo with elderly people and engaging
them about the good old days probably isn’t in
the top five activities of most college students.
Those in the Colter Commons ministry,
lovingly referred to by some as “Adopt-a-
Grandma,” aren’t most students.
Since September, about 20 students have
been building relationships with senior citizens
at Colter Commons, an apartment complex a
block east of GCU’s campus. They walk over
for a resident’s salsa lesson or to carve pumpkins
and have hosted residents on campus to swim in
the Papago pool, tour campus or dine and stroll
together along Lopes Way.
Community zest
Love has a monopoly on the hearts of GCU students
as they build relationships with those in need
B Y J A N I E M A G R U D E R
GCU junior Veronica Montgomery (left) enjoys a laugh with
Lanaye Zummallen at Colter Commons east of campus. The
women became friends through a new Local Outreach ministry
that bridges the generation gap.
photo by darryl webb
